Speakers

Consumerism and conflict, politics and power, fear and injustice mark the narrative of our world and our streets. Humanity was created from the dust of the land, yet God breathed His life into us - but have we lost connection to both? As we follow Jesus how do we understand and balance our call to seek His kingdom coming in the now of our neighbourhoods and world, yet have faith and find hope in the promise of a creation made whole. Can we embody the way of Jesus now as citizens in our places and world, yet hold an eternal identity as saints?

Keynote Speakers

Karen Kime

Rev Karen Kime is a Birripa woman whose family come from Dingo Creek on the north coast of NSW. Her ministry has included working with the culturally diverse nations of south eastern Australia, advocating with Indigenous Australians, building bridges of understanding and highlighting the many strengths of Aboriginal culture and heritage. Karen is presently undertaking a PhD in `Wise Practices’ and community development. She is the Chaplain to the Research and Ethics Committee at the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies and on the Board of the Australian Centre for Christianity and Culture.

Kim Hammond

Kim is the lead pastor of the Casey congregation with CityLife, is on the teaching team and oversees all of the multi-site lead pastors. He, along with his family, spent five years in America as the director of missional imagination at Community Christian Church, in Chicago, while he launched Forge America. He is the co-author of "Sentness" and has spoken all over the world. In 2002 he was a Forge Intern and church planter in Melbourne Victoria and co-planted the Junction, a group of missional communities. He has been part of Forge ever since. He has been married to Maria for over 20 years and they have three sons.

kuki rokhum

Kuki Rokhum is part of the Senior Leadership team with TEAR Australia’s partner in India, EFICOR (a leading Indian Christian aid, development and relief organisation). In a context where being a Christian woman in leadership is even more challenging than in Australia, Kuki has held many senior leadership roles in India and across the South Asia region, working passionately to educate and motivate the church to be involved in issues of justice.

Soong-Chan Rah

Dr. Soong-Chan Rah is Milton B. Engebretson Associate Professor of Church Growth and Evangelism at North Park Theological Seminary in Chicago, Illinois, and is the author of Many Colors: Cultural Intelligence for a Changing Church and The Next Evangelicalism. Rah was founding pastor of Cambridge Community Fellowship Church, a multiethnic, urban, postmodern generation church in Cambridge, Massachusetts. He serves on the boards of Sojourners, the Christian Community Development Association (CCDA), World Vision, and the Catalyst Leadership Center.

Tim costello

Tim Costello joined World Vision Australia in 2004. He served as CEO from 2004-2016 and now serves as Chief Advocate. Tim is one of Australia’s most sought-after voices on social justice issues, leadership and ethics, having spearheaded public debates on gambling, urban poverty, homelessness, reconciliation and substance abuse. He has been instrumental in ensuring that the issues surrounding global poverty are on the national agenda.